Garment hanger with offset hook

ABSTRACT

A garment hanger having a pair of hanger members that are pivotally coupled together by a spring. The first hanger member includes an upper hook member and a lower clip region. The second hanger member is generally curved and includes an upper tab or gripping surface and a lower interior region. The upper hook member of the first hanger member extends in a plane that is laterally offset from the plane generally defined by the upper portion of the lower clip region so that the hook is positioned towards the center of the closed clip during use to allow a boot or other garment to hang more vertically.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates, in general, to garment storage and, more particularly, to garment hangers for hanging garments for storage.

2. General Background of the Invention

Hangers for hanging garments from a clothes rod or other elevated structure have been known for some time. More recently, hangers have included pairs of clip members that allow a garment to be retained between the lower portions of the clip members. As shown by U.S. Design Pat. Nos. D481,618 and D552,461, the hooks utilized in such hangers commonly extend within the same plane as one of the clip members. Accordingly, when the hanger is laden with a garment and hung from a clothes rod or other horizontal structure, the weight of the garment will force the hanger to list toward the clip member having the hook.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides garment hangers that overcome many of the shortcomings of certain prior art hangers. In particular, garment hangers are disclosed that include a laterally offset hook member that positions the hook member towards the center, and hence closer to a center of gravity, of a closed clip. As a result, garments attached to the hanger are allowed to hang more vertically during use.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the garment hanger includes a pair of hanger members that are pivotally connected together through a spring. The first hanger member includes an upper hook member and a lower clip region, with the upper hook member being laterally offset from the upper portion of the lower clip member. The second hanger or clip member is generally curved or arcuate in construction and includes a tab or upper gripping surface on its exterior side. The bottom parts of the interior sides of the lower clip region and the second hanger member include gripping regions to facilitate the grasping and retention of a garment during use.

In operation, the spring biases the gripping regions of the lower clip member and the second hanger member together so that the clip is in a closed position. Movement of the tabs or manual gripping surfaces of the hanger members towards each other overcomes the spring bias and acts to separate the gripping regions to allow a garment such as, but not limited to, a boot, to be selectively introduced or removed from the space therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a garment hanger of the present invention showing the clip in the closed position;

FIG. 2 is a left side elevated view of the garment hanger of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevated view of the garment hanger of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the garment hanger of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the garment hanger of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the garment hanger of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, several specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is intended as an exemplification of the principles of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

An embodiment of the present garment hanger 10 is shown in FIGS. 1-6 as comprising a first hanger member 12 and a second hanger or clip member 14. The hanger members are preferably constructed of a substantially rigid material such as, but not limited to oriented polypropylene (OPP).

Referring to FIG. 6, the first hanger member is shown as having an upper hook member 20 and a lower clip region or member 22. While the upper hook member 20 and lower clip region 22 are shown as being integrally formed, it is appreciated that they may be separately formed and attached or fixed together in a known way.

The upper hook member 20 includes a neck 30 extending from the lower clip region 22 and culminating in a curved hook 32. The neck 30 and hook 32 have an exterior wall 34 defining an open region therebetween, the wall being of sufficient thickness to withstand the weight of the desired garment(s) when in use. While the upper hook member is shown as being generally hollow in construction, it is appreciated that it may be solid or have ribbing or other internal structures and not depart from the scope of the invention. In order to provide additional strength and lessen the risk of the upper hook member being snapped off from the lower clip region, the walls of the neck may extend into the lower clip region.

The lower clip region 22 includes an outer wall 40 that defines a substantially hourglass body and an interior region. Internal ribs 42 extend within the interior region to provide structural support to the lower clip region 22. A pair of spaced-apart arms 44 having holes 46 through their ends extend outwardly from the interior of the lower clip region 22 to allow a spring 50 to be positioned in between the arms 44. A rivot or other connector 48 may be inserted through the holes 46 and the interior of the spring 50. The first end 52 of the spring 50 may be connected to the lower clip region 22 by inserting it into a respective groove or slot 56. It is also appreciated that the end may simply push against the interior of the lower clip member 22. Referring to FIG. 6, the upper portion of the lower clip region is substantially planar.

The bottom of the lower clip region 22 includes a garment gripping region 60. While a variety of shapes, sizes and materials may be used, in a preferred embodiment, the gripping region 60 may encompass the majority of the interior region of the bottom of the body of the lower clip region 22 and be made from a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) with lamellae 62. The griping region 60 may be secured in place through wall 64 and wall 40 that, together, form an enclosure for encircling the gripping region 60. The gripping region may be secured within the enclosure using adhesives, a press fit or other known means.

The outside of the lower clip region 22 includes a tab or upper gripping surface 70 and a lower interior region 72 defined by wall 40 and surface 74. One or more ribs 76 may extend within the lower interior region 72 to provide structural strength to the lower clip region 22. The upper gripping surface 70 is designed to provide an area for a user to grip to facilitate separation of the clip members. The upper gripping surface 70 may be made from a material having a higher coefficient of friction or including a textured surface to provide a surface that resists sliding thereon. It is also appreciated that the upper gripping surface 70 may be made from a material that is printable or that can receive a sticker or other covering member thereon to allow advertising or other indicia to be displayed thereon.

Referring to FIG. 2, the upper hook member 20 extends in a plane that is laterally offset from the plane generally defined by the upper portion of the lower clip member 22 so that at least part of the upper hook member 20 extends over part of the spring 50 and other internal components. Being laterally offset positions the hook 32 towards the center of the clip in the closed position (rather than one of the pivoting clip members itself). This permits a hanger burdened by the weight of a garment, such as a boot, to hang more vertically when in use.

The second hanger member or clip member 12 includes an outer wall 100 that defines a substantially hourglass body and an interior region. One or more internal ribs 102 may extend within the interior region to provide structural support to the second hanger member 14. A pair of spaced-apart arms 104 having holes 106 through their ends extend outwardly from the interior of the second hanger member 14 to allow a spring 50 to be positioned in between the arms 104. The arms 104 are offset from corresponding arms 44 on the lower clip region 22 so that they may be placed within the arms 44 to allow the holes 46, 106 to align to permit the rivet or other connector 48 to be inserted therethrough to attach the first and second hanger members 12, 14 together with spring 50.

The second end 54 of the spring 50 may be connected to the second hanger member 14 by inserting it into a respective groove, slot or opening 110 on one of the arms 104. It is also appreciated that the end may simply push against the interior of the second hanger member or be attached in another known way. The bottom of the second hanger member 14 includes a garment gripping region 120. While a variety of shapes, sizes and materials may be used, in a preferred embodiment, the gripping region 120 may encompass the majority of the interior region of the bottom of the body of the second hanger member 14 and be made from a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) with lamellae 122. The griping region 120 may be secured in place through wall 124 and wall 100 that, together, form an enclosure for encircling the gripping region 120. The gripping region may be secured within the enclosure using adhesives, a press fit or other known means.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the outside of the second hanger member 14 includes a tab or upper gripping surface 130 and a lower region or cavity 132 defined by wall 100 and surface 134. One or more ribs 136 may extend within the lower region 132 to provide structural strength to the second hanger member 14. The upper gripping surface 130 is designed to provide an area for a user to grip to facilitate separation of the clip members (i.e., opening of the clip). The upper gripping surface may be made from a material having a higher coefficient of friction or including a textured surface to provide a surface that resists sliding thereon. It is also appreciated that the upper gripping surface 130 may be made from a material that is printable or that can receive a sticker or other covering member thereon to allow advertising or other indicia to be displayed thereon.

In operation, spring 50 normally biases the garment gripping regions 60, 120 together. Grasping the hanger and exerting pressure on the tabs or upper gripping surfaces 70, 130 overcomes the tension of spring 50 and biases the garment gripping regions 60, 120 apart to allow a garment to be inserted therebetween. In one embodiment, the second hanger member 14 is curved so that the angle between the garment gripping regions 60, 120 when fully separated is about 55 degrees. Once separated, a garment is inserted or placed between the garment gripping regions 60, 120 and retained therebetween by releasing pressure on the upper gripping surfaces 70, 130, which allows the spring 50 to act to bias the clip members together, wherein the garment gripping regions 60, 120 will engage the garment and hold it therebetween. The hook 32 may then be placed over a clothes rod and hung thereon. The laterally offset hook member 20 positions the hook 32 toward the center of a closed clip, rather than inline with one of the pivoting clip members, thereby allowing the clip and retained garment to hang more vertically. Specifically, and as best seen in FIG. 2, lower clip region 22 of first hanger member 12 extends vertically through a second plane that is laterally offset from, and parallel to, a first plane extending vertically through upper hook member 20. This lateral offset causes the top portion of hook member 20 to be laterally disposed closer to a garment retained by present garment hanger 10, and thus disposed laterally closer to an overall center of gravity of garment hanger 10 and its retained garment. As a result, garment hanger 10 will tend to hang more vertically from an associated clothes rod or other support, particularly when laden with a relatively heavy garment, than with prior art hangers having hooks extending through the same plane as an associated clip member.

Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described. Various modifications, changes and variations may be made in the arrangement, operation and details of performing the various steps of the invention disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The present disclosure is intended to exemplify and not limit the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A garment hanger, comprising: a first hanger member comprising: a first clip member having an upper portion and a bottom portion, the upper portion generally extending in a first plane; and a hook member disposed substantially on top of the first clip member and extending in a second plane that is laterally offset from the first plane; and a second hanger member that is pivotally connected to the first clip member.
 2. The garment hanger of claim 1 wherein the second hanger member is curved.
 3. The garment hanger of claim 1 wherein the first clip member and second hanger member are collectively substantially hourglass-shaped.
 4. The garment hanger of claim 1 wherein the hook member comprises a neck and a hook extending from the neck.
 5. The garment hanger of claim 4 wherein the hook member further comprises exterior walls defining a hollow interior region.
 6. The garment hanger of claim 1 wherein a spring pivotally biases the second hanger member to the first clip member.
 7. The garment hanger of claim 1 wherein the first clip member includes a garment gripping surface proximate its bottom and the second hanger member includes a garment gripping surface proximate its bottom and opposite the garment gripping surface of the first clip member.
 8. The garment hanger of claim 7 where the garment gripping surfaces are made from a thermoplastic elastomer.
 9. The garment hanger of claim 7 wherein the garment gripping surfaces comprise lamellae.
 10. The garment hanger of claim 7 wherein the first clip member and the second hanger member include upper manual gripping surfaces on their exterior sides.
 11. The garment hanger of claim 10 wherein the upper gripping surfaces are made from a textured material.
 12. The garment hanger of claim 1 wherein the first plane is substantially parallel to the second plane.
 13. The garment hanger of claim 1 wherein the first plane is disposed closer than the second plane to the second hanger member.
 14. The garment hanger of claim 1 wherein the first plane is disposed closer than the second plane to a point of pivotal connection of the first and second hanger members.
 15. The garment hanger of claim 7 wherein the garment gripping regions adjoin each other when the garment hanger is in a closed orientation.
 16. The garment hanger of claim 15 wherein the first plane is disposed closer than the second plane to the adjoining garment gripping regions when the garment hanger is in the closed orientation. 